The What and How’s of the Shad Spawn!
The shad spawn although it’s a short period of time, can mean the best bass fishing of the spring if you hit the right spots at the right times. Shad spawn when the water temperatures hit upper sixties to low seventies and during the full moon. In the Southeast TN, GA and AL this usually means the full moon in April and May. Shad normally spawn right at daybreak. Once the sun gets on the water the shad spawn is usually over for the day; likewise if it remains cloudy it will last longer into the day.
For the most part in the southeast region, the first major wave of spawning bass have either finished or is close to finishing. For a lot of anglers this can signal the beginning of the post spawn blues, however for some anglers it is game time! Shortly after spawning the larger female bass start a migration to deeper water areas close by to start the recovery process. After a couple of days rest their hungry; a very prolific fish and a favorite meal of the bass is threadfin shad and their beginning the spawning ritual.
Threadfin shad can be found in most lakes across the southeast and are the staple diet of all bass from Largemouth in LakeGuntersville and KentuckyLake to Smallmouth bass in clear deep lakes such as Tim’s Ford and Dale Hollow. This high in protein food source makes them the perfect forage for hungry bass. Threadfin shad generally grow to a size of four to six inches and inhabit a wide range of water depths and temperatures.
Typically the shad are triggered to start their spawn when the water temperature ranges between 68-76 degrees. The shad will find varieties of habitat to spawn depending upon the type of lake. These areas may consist but are not limited to shoreline grass or lily pads, rip rap, wood cover and even boat docks typically in shallow water (three to five feet) with deeper water close by. On lakes such as LakeGuntersville shad can also be found spawning on the main lake grass ledges around deeper water.
Watch for dark clouds of shad travelling the grass lines or rippling of the water right where the water meets the edge of the hard surfaces, such as wood or rocky banks. The school of shad runs down the bank or channel grass and the females lay eggs that stick to the grass and other hard surfaces. The males are running with them and releasing sperm that fertilizes the eggs. I’ve noticed shad jumping completely out of the water onto the bank when they spawn on lakes like Tim’s Ford.
I have found one of the best ways to catch bass during the shad spawn is using a spinnerbait such as a 3/8 to 3/4 ounce Assassinator “Clacker” Spinnerbaits with its unique stacked blade configuration, in which the blades actually bang together garners one of the most violent strikes I’ve known; next best choice is the light wire Punisher Spinnerbait. Silver willowleaf #4 or #5 blades with a white skirt imitate the shad. Another great way to catch bass during this time is top water baits like Assassinator Buzzbaits with a head/hook that set below the water due to its 45 degree bend just in front of the head, Poppers and SPRO Dawg 100’s. A buzzbait worked slowly will often excite the bass even more shallow cover, while at the same time if you are fishing close to deep water try a hard bait such as the SPRO Dawg or a Popper this will draw them from greater depths simply because you can work them slower. I tend to use a top water lure when fish just prior to the crack of dawn and again as the spinnerbait bite slows after sun up.
Get your boat in close to the bank and parallel the bank. Try to position your boat behind the shad and keep your movement to a minimum, so not to spook them. See which way they are moving and cast with or across the flow of traffic. Cast your spinnerbait right on the rocks or against the sea wall in areas void of grass and when fishing around grass allow the spinner bait to “Tick” the grass, as it does jerk it free and hold on. If fishing grass ledges as your lures clears the grass drop to rod tip and stop your retrieve for a few seconds, than pop the tip once or twice. Many times bass will relate to the edge of the grass waiting for unsuspecting prey. If you suspect this; using a stick bait similar to a wacky rigged Yamamoto Senko, will produce great results. You can’t cast too shallow! Some bass will be amazingly shallow and will be looking for shad almost out of the water. Start your retrieve as soon as your bait hits the water and be ready to set the hook immediately. Bass will often hit as soon as the bait hits the water when using either a top water lure or spinnerbait.
My preferred equipment set up when using a spinnerbait, SPRO Dawg or popper is a 6’9” to 7’0” Medium Heavy Duckett Micro or Macro Guide Rod, LEW’s 6.4:1 reel spooled with 15-17 pound test Vicious Ultimate Co-Poly line. With this set up your rod has just the right tip action to properly work the lure and still enough backbone to keep the beast hooked up. With Buzzbaits, I’ll arm my clients with a 7’0” Heavy Duckett Micro or Macro Guide Rod. LEW’s 6.4:1 or 7:1 reel spooled with 50 pound test Vicious Braid because we are normally throwing it in or around heavy cover and your going to need to extra power to drag them out!
Capt Jake Davis is a full time, year round professional guide on LakeGuntersville and Tim’s Ford, Mid South Bass Guide, www.midsouthbassguide.com or call his cell at (615) 613-2382
